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Twin Baby Tigers Growing Well in East China
Twin cubs, born two weeks ago in the Suzhou Shihu South China Tiger-Breeding Base in East China's Jiangsu Province, are growing well, sources said.
Huang Gong, a veterinarian at the base, said the weight of the two cubs has been growing by 200 grams daily, and now they weigh more than three kilograms each.
So far, only 53 South China tigers are alive in captivity. None of the animals have been captured alive during the past 40 years.
The species, unique to China, is listed as one of the 10 most endangered animals on earth by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The twin cubs, a male and a female, were born on February 8. Their mother, No.241 tigress in international serial numbering, has sufficient milk and is good at taking care of her babies. The tigress has given birth to five cubs previously, sources said.
The father is a tiger internationally numbered 251.
The breeding base has built a comfortable "villa" equipped with air conditioners and electric heating facilities for the mother tiger and her two babies.
Animal keepers said that they will feed the cubs with meat mash and yolk in a few days.
Founded in 1999, the Suzhou-based South China Tiger-breeding base, covering four hectares, has 30 tiger rooms and other facilities like medical treatment rooms and monitor and control facilities. The base currently has 13 South China tigers, the largest breeding community of the tiger in the world.
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